Like the proverbial swallows to Capistrano, overlanders will be returning to Flagstaff, Arizona, for the 2023 edition of Overland Expo West, May 19-21. Ticket prices range from $490 for the full, weekend-long Overland Experience pass to just $20 for a one-day pass on Sunday. Held again at the sprawling Fort Tuthill County Park, you can…
A Shift-Your-Own Option Will Be Available on the 2024 Toyota Tacoma
Toyota continues a steady drip of teasers ahead of the official launch of the 2024 Tacoma (the launch date itself remains a mystery). In addition to portable Bluetooth tunes, a Trailhunter trim package, and hybrid drive, the Big T announced this week that its class-leading mid-size truck will also come with a manual transmission option…
Video :: Preserving and Exploring the East Mojave Heritage Trail
Long-time denizens of Expedition Portal certainly will know our old friend and frequent contributor, Chris Cordes. Now with onX Maps, Chris has turned his passion for off-road exploration into a career helping others find their own way to unknown places. One such place is the American Southwest’s Mojave Desert. A sprawling patchwork of diverse landscapes,…
Ignik Firecan Deluxe and Gas Growler :: Field Tested
A portable fire pit can enhance the vibe of any campsite, and if it can double down as a quick way to grill up a morning or evening meal, so much the better. While traditional fire pits that use wood or charcoal to feed the flames may tickle that primitive part of our brains that…
Field Tested :: LifeSaver Wayfarer Water Purifier
way-far-er /ˈwāˌferər/ noun a person who travels on foot. Portable water filters are common kit among backpackers and other travelers of the remote backcountry. Rugged, reliable, and usually field serviceable, they take the guesswork out of securing a clean water supply. The most highly effective among carbon ceramics filters eliminate up to 99.9999 percent of…
Gaia GPS Teams Up with Backcountry Discovery Routes
For the last decade, Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) has been introducing brass ring-level overland expeditions across North America. These multi-day DIY routes traverse large swaths of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States, as well as every Western state save Montana. Aimed primarily at the dual-sport and adventure moto set, these off-pavement routes come with free…
Can Your Overland Videos Send You to Jail?
Last spring, I woke early to start a long day’s hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on the south rim’s Bright Angel trail. Just a few switchbacks down from the historic Kolb brothers’ studio (famous in their own right as filmmakers), my eye caught subtle but deliberate movement in the pre-dawn light. A…
The Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Enters the Chat
Those of us in the Subaruverse could see this one coming from a long way off. With the runaway sales success of the Outback Wilderness and Forester Wilderness models, it was only a matter of time before Subaru’s smallest adventure-mobile got the Wilderness treatment. The formula remains the same (why change it?)—beefier lifted suspension, gnarlier…
Video of the Week :: Return to Namibia
If you listened to the Overland Journal Podcast recently or saw Joe Fleming’s stunning photo essay from his moto adventure in Southern Africa just a few weeks ago, you probably have a little Africa travel itch you need to scratch. I know I do. It’s almost impossible to take a bad photograph in Namibia, and…
Grounded Launches Fully Customizable Smart Electric RV
The EV revolution in the recreational vehicle and camping world continues apace with the launch of Grounded’s new fully electric Ford Transit RV. The company will begin delivering its first G1s via a monthly subscription model in April 2023, and lease and outright purchase options will also be available. The Transit, in all its variations,…
LAND Energy Launches New e-Motorcycle :: The District Scrambler
Cleaveland, Ohio’s Land Energy is a forward-thinking electric mobility company, and they’ve just announced the debut of their latest e-Motorcycle: the District. Produced in two flavors, a street-oriented bike and an adventure-focused scrambler, the latter District model comes with some unique features that will appeal to the overland crowd. In particular, Land’s modular CORE battery…
The Bubble Run :: South Africa’s Only Traditional Motorcycle Run
If you’ve ever flipped up a kickstand in South Africa, you know it’s one of the absolute best destinations for adventure motorcycling. The diversity of landscapes and scenery, the wildlife, the melting pot of cultures, and especially the riding community make this incredible country at the bottom of the world a must-do on your moto…
SoCal Meetup Hosted by Super Pacific and Rhino Adventure Gear
Overland event season is slowly unfolding for 2023, and those lucky enough to live in the sunkissed land of Southern California get the benefit of some of the earliest meetups. Still snowbound in Montana, I can’t help but feel a little wistful for some warm breezes and gentle ocean currents this time of year. Super…
Motorola Announces Defy Satellite Communications Range
Founded in 1928, Motorola is one of the oldest mobile technology brands on the planet. Engineers at Motorola invented the car stereo, the walkie-talkie, the first hand-held portable phone, and the world’s first commercial cellular device. Their 3G cell phones dominated the market for years and were instantly recognizable—raise your hand if you had an…
Destinations :: Field Station Moab
Moab, Utah, is one of the true outdoor adventure meccas of North America. I have many happy memories from my trips there, both as a launching pad for exploring the seemingly endless trails and national parks in the surrounding area and for the town itself, which has an eclectic mix of Jeepers, climbers, mountain bikers,…
Great American Rail-Trail Aims to Link Both Coasts
Rail lines offer a unique opportunity for building trail networks since they bridge urban, rural, and wilderness landscapes in ways other infrastructures don’t. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has been converting disused and abandoned rail lines in the United States into footpaths and bicycle trails since 1986. There is likely a Rails-to-Trails project near you as…
Field Tested :: InstaPrivy Portable Toilet Kit
Of all the portable commodes on the market today, the InstaPrivy is the only one you wear on your head. From outside the privacy shelter, the user looks like an olive-drab ghost on Halloween or perhaps a tiny mobile grain silo, but the design is genius in its simplicity (more on how to use the…
Max Adventure Announces Two Sahara Rallies for 2023
Among the cars that have come and gone from my garage over the years, my 2003 Mini Cooper S (the R53 generation) remains one of my favorites. I kept it well-maintained, so the reliability problems that plagued the supercharged hatchback stayed away. It was an efficient and engaging commuter, a hoot on track days, and…
Field Tested :: Hovsco HovBeta 20-inch Foldable Fat Tire Electric Bike
The world of electric bikes is evolving rapidly and expanding into dozens of different niches. From basic pedal assist to near motorcycle-like capabilities, the field is diverse. E-bikes appeal to overlanders looking to add a secondary mode of transportation to their outfit, and the Hovsco HovBeta folding step-through e-bike is an appealing option. I’m an…
Jeep Reveals 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Wrangler Rubicon
Has it really been 20 years? Jeep introduced the Rubicon nameplate for the TJ-generation Wrangler at Moab’s Easter Jeep Safari in 2002, and it was something of a watershed for the brand. DaimlerChrysler had finally equipped the original all-American sport utility vehicle with a legit factory off-road accessory package for the first time. The ur-Rubicon…